CapeTalk Highlights

On Tuesday afternoon, The Democratic Alliance (DA) brought an urgent application before the High Court in Pretoria to challenge President Jacob Zuma's Cabinet reshuffle.

Democratic Alliance's federal executive chairman, James Selfe says they are challenging President Zuma's decision based on rationality.

It is in our jurisprudence that every executive action by the President must be based on rationality otherwise, it is illegal and unconstitutional.

— James Selfe, The DA federal executive chairman

This applies as much to appointing the National Director of Public Prosecutions, that was established in the Simelane case. The President was irrational when he had appointed Mr. Simelane to that position, we believe that the same principle applies also to Cabinet positions.

— James Selfe, The DA federal executive chairman

Selfe says the President was not entirely ignorant of the consequences of changing a finance minister. He adds that the DA is arguing that President Zuma's decision must have been irrational or based on bad faith.

Selfe also says they have no illusion over the President’s prerogative to hire and fire members of his Cabinet.

But the point is that we have a Constitution here, we are a constitutional state and the Constitutional Court itself has laid down that executive actions have to be based on rationality.

— James Selfe, The DA federal executive chairman

Self says the DA is also hoping to have the reliability of the intelligence report assessed in court.